No Sluggards Around Here

Proverbs 22:5.....5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares,
but he who guards his soul stays far from them. NIV

Proverbs 24:30-34......30 I went past the field of the sluggard,

past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; 

31 thorns had come up everywhere,

the ground was covered with weeds,

and the stone wall was in ruins. 

32 I applied my heart to what I observed 

and learned a lesson from what I saw: 

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest-- 

34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit 

and scarcity like an armed man.   NIV

Yesterday was a beautiful day, with warm sunshine and warm temps to match, and a short ride to see the view of the beautiful scenic gorge was a wonderful idea. There were many boaters on the water fishing and  I even caught a view of some fine big hawks waiting their turn for the fishing event as well! I love this area and am delighted to see it everyday when the sun rises to shine on the majestic mountains that rise and fall into gorgeous valleys of green and ribbons of blue as the waters dance and move along the gorge that sport their diamond sparkles for everyone to see.

But as we continued to travel along some of the roadways, I was caught off-guard by the debris that dots some areas by the river way.There was trash and boxes scattered around, tarps and old vehicles, old boats and abandoned travel trailers with green moss growing on the roofs of said trailers, and even some black bags of trash and I thought of the scriptures above.

It also reminded me of a pastor who came to visit our church back about eighteen years ago now, but he had expounded on the Proverbs 24 scripture. He had mentioned that he was on his way home from some errands on a bright and beautiful day and had been praying in the Holy Ghost. He went by this house in a nice neighborhood, but it did not resemble any of the other homes there. He said the fence was falling down, weeds were almost as high as the porch on the fairly new home and the house needed a new coat of paint! He told us that the Holy Ghost told him that the man who owned that house had the same heart condition as that which appeared outside of his home with over-grown weeds and all! Yikes!

Now when I was growing up, I knew all about keeping our room clean. That cleaning included keeping the inside of the dresser drawers as well organized as the top of the dresser free of "dust bunnies"! And yes, my mother would inspect with that "white glove" treatment to make sure my sister and I had done a good job. She liked everything smelling clean and looking top notch, so to speak.

My dad was one that kept all vehicles just as clean and spotless. He did not like anything thrown down in the floorboard or left on the seat of the car or his truck. The only time we could eat in the vehicle was when we were at a "drive-in" movie. And you guessed it, he was out the next day cleaning everything from the top to the bottom of the vehicle we road in to enjoy the evening movie.

No, today, my life is still the same, and being married am very aware that my husband keeps an immaculate garage. Everything in its place and everything in its own container, so there is a clean walkway to walk through our garage. He even has some in-door, out-door carpet on the floor area from the doorway to the garage door for people to walk on. Yes, it gets vacuumed as well.

In reflecting on those scriptures from above, I am always aware of the first time I read them and kept them in my heart knowing importance of keeping and taking care of that which God has entrusted to our care. Another scripture that comes to mind is, "As in the water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man"...Proverbs 27:19.

I know those qualities extend far into helping those who have a ministry, a management position, a job of bringing different companies with different people, fish and technology, mix them together to form companies, or to run a city like the mayor and police department.

Any promotion to do a job comes from God and when it comes slowly, we can expect to do that which God has for us to do!

I had learned valuable lessons on the way from dusting those bunnies around to straightening our dresser drawers to being able to open a daycare and set up for the day's business. My husband, too, had valuable lessons with dairy cows, horses, and even an occasional stubborn sister. He had sisters that were so much younger and had to watch over them while his parents were busy with other work on the farm. He was always pitching in to help another and it showed in his work within the work-place. He was never arrogant about it, he just got in and helped another to get the job done. But one thing for sure of his family, they always worked like a "team".

For me and in my observations today, sports and military do not always reflect a hero. The best examples I have found are in the Bible and in our children's lives.

Proverbs 22:6.....6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.  NKJV
Yes, this scripture follows the one on snares and thorns. (verse 5).....it is a simple word but a powerful one in training up a child and the way he should go, to travel and become.

Do we desire our children to be failures or successes? Do we desire them to be the "leaders' this country needs? Will there be allurements or deceptions that our children, and grand-children should and can avoid to keep to the path of life and godliness?

The best example to me has come from the writings of  King David and the importance to walking in integrity and being humble before God and man. That humility is a trust in the God Who created us. That is a "confidence" that recognizes virtue. A confident person will always give credit to another for their success. It can be a parent or parents, a teacher or teachers, but all comes back to the Lord directing our pathway and if we "are teachable". In leadership over others looks like a willing heart. It is a willing heart looking to delegate leadership to others, to delegate to them and see them run with it. Hopefully we are not the one watching over them to think we can do it better, but really being a leader who wants others to excel in their gifting's as well. And another important thing is to keep a check on those "emotions"!

For me, and I only know my testimonies to write about, but seriously we have to regard our start in life. For me again was the waging war on "dust bunnies" and the emotions that could rise out of that if I did a "bad job" to wisk them away.  I could always find an excuse or some reason for doing my best job. My mother would point me back to doing the job "right". But each step brought me closer to where I am today. Today, I have had opportunities opened to me that I call God's favor on my life. I have opportunities to minister His word to women and men alike through church and the Internet.

I have seen our grand-daughter being taught the importance of being a "team member". I daily and weekly see how everyone works together for an accomplished end that brings a clean home, harmony and praise to God Himself.

I am thankful to my mother for all that she taught me about cleanliness and how God gave me another example through my husband. I have much on my plate to see come to pass and am grateful for the promises He has given to us help get from point A to point B!

So daily and yes, weekly, my husband and I take inventory of what needs to  change, to be cleaned, gotten rid of, and what needs covering of God's word. But in this walk with the Lord, and my husband said it accurately yesterday. He said, " our walking with the Lord, exercising everyday with His Word helps improve our heart condition." And I believe that whole-heartedly!

Paul said in Ephesians 4:31-32...........31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. NKJV

The next trip I take out to view the gorge,  I will keep in mind those who have been there before and left their belongings for others to view. But I will also take note that God in His great mercy has put my sin far from me through His Son Jesus. I will pray for those who left some of their baggage behind and pray for them to be constructive and not critical. For our attitude is truly known when as children, young adults and even a senior-citizen.

My prayer: Father, help us to be like child-like in our spiritual life with You. May we be mature in our knowledge of You, but oh so child-like with anger and bitterness. Help us to see that "emotions" should not rule us as an individual, or even as a nation! It is not about me and my thing but all of us together in the same boat! Lord, today, I am praying for those who may have a background of coming from a church foundation in Your Word and I am praying for those who have none. I pray for those who do not know You to be saved this day.  That those who left their belongings along the river, may they confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus was raised by You Father God. May everyone be saved as they confess Jesus as Lord. For He is the Lord of all! I pray for all to have a fire in their bellies to seek those heroes of the Bible and through their testimonies, see their failures and successes. May each who reads this find those testimonies to follow truth and godliness and know that God is not through with them yet! I pray for all who read this to be surrounded by motivating examples of godly people, those living examples of God's enduring love to us. Father, You are not absent from the scene but in the very midst of each of or lives to direct our pathway to freedom in who You have called us to be! As like King David, may we not have that "chip on our shoulder" but learn to delegate those into leadership from all areas of life that they too, can be a part of Your great move in these last days! Thank You for parents who gave us life and gave us family life to see victories and achievements. For all the bruises and hurts we might have experienced You have used them for our good and gave a good kick to the adversary to block our destruction. From dust bunnies to proclaiming truth You have been a part of our lives. Our waging warfare is good warfare through God-given weapons to overthrow the adversary. Show each who pray this the very moment You moved in on their behalf and guided them through to victory. Today I give You praise for Your Word and for life abundantly that just keeps getting better though the Blood of Jesus. Your will be done today in our lives as it is in heaven. Amen.

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